1.4 Vocab Flash Cards - Scientific Method (P.SCI.)

Front

Science

Back

A method for studying the natural world by gaining knowledge through observations and investigations.

Front

Observation

Back

Objective; based on the 5 senses, not opinion.

Front

Inference

Back

Subjective; a guess about an observation.

Front

Law

Back

Description of how things happen in nature.

Front

Theory

Back

An explanation, based on evidence, of why things happen.

Front

Hypothesis

Back

A testable prediction that attempts to answer a question.

Front

Independent variable

Back

What is being purposefully changed; what is being tested; the 'cause'.

Front

Dependent variable

Back

What is being measured; the data collected as a response; the 'effect'.

Front

Constant

Back

Factors that do not change in the experiment; conditions kept the same for all groups.

Front

Control group

Back

The normal group used for comparison.